Gallbladder removal is a quite common surgical procedure, and patients are usually apprehensive about what diet they need to follow after the surgery.
Gallbladder is located in the upper right portion of abdomen. It is a part of your biliary system, which is made up of liver, gallbladder, and associated ducts. This system is needed for the production, storage, and secretion of bile. Bile is a thick liquid that is green, brown, or yellow in colour. It’s used to help with the digestion of fats and is produced by the liver. Gallstone disease is common and surgical removal of gallbladder remains only absolute treatment to get rid of it and to prevent serious complications in future. Gallbladder stores and concentrates bile. After the intake of food, the gallbladder contracts to release the bile it has stored into the small intestine to digest dietary lipids and fat-soluble nutrients. People after gallbladder removal surgery can live a normal life. Your liver will still produce the bile that you need for digestion. However, instead of being stored in the gallbladder, the bile will move directly to the small intestine. Hence, it is important to note that removal of gall bladder is not associated with any impairment in digestion. Most people do not experience any side effects or symptoms, however a few may take some time to adjust to its removal. In short term for a few days diarrhoea or bloating may occur in select cases, restoring the gut micro-biota with oral supplementation of pre/probiotic should be taken into consideration.
Otherwise, there is no specific diet to follow after removal of the gallbladder. Patients should consult the dietician for a tailor made, healthy, balanced diet keeping in mind their personal medical history, current health status and preferences. Patients should;
- Eat small and frequent meals to allow an adequate mixture with the small quantity of bile present into the duodenum.
- They should not overeat or eat under stress
- Choose fresh and organic foods and avoid packaged foods.
- Include essential fatty acids, such as omega 3, 6 and 9 from olive oil, flax seed oil, fish and fish oils etc.
- Pay attention to food labels, especially for fat content, should not be >3gm per serving.
- Gradually increase amount of fibrous foods in the diet.
- Take limited caffeine content, not more than 3 to 4 cups of coffee or tea per day.
- There is no restriction for any specific variety of pulses, vegetables or fruits etc.
- Regular physical activity should be continued for faster recovery and to stay on track.
In the early days of post-surgery try keeping a record of whatever you eat and also keep a log of any symptoms you face after ingestion of food. This may help you plan meals more mindfully as well as alter your eating pattern for faster and smoother recovery.
